Economics is a social science concerned with the process or system by which goods
and services are produced, sold, and bought. When you major in economics, you will
learn about a wide range of forces that shape our economy and society and examine
issues such as poverty, growth, unemployment, income inequality, trade, healthcare,
the environment, and regulation. Through the study of economics, you will become adept
at critical thinking, acquire analytical skills, and strengthen your quantitative
skills, each of which is valued in today’s workplace. Economics majors go on to have
successful careers in industry, finance, consulting, law, public policy, and education.
Millsaps offers a BA and a BS in economics with tracks in business economics, quantitative
economics, and policy economics.

The General Louis Wilson Fund, a student-managed fund, provides Millsaps students
an educational experience through active portfolio management.

Blakely Fox Fender

Professor of Economics, J. Armistead Brown Chair of Business Administration

“I am a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Millsaps College where I received a BA in economics.
After receiving my PhD in economics at the University of Texas at Austin, I joined
the faculty of the Else School of Management at Millsaps. I knew the significance
of a Millsaps education and wanted to be a part of that experience.”

“My background in consulting taught me the value of statistical modeling and the information
it can provide us to help solve problems. Whether I’m teaching econometrics, managerial
analysis or labor economics, I bring that pragmatic, evidence-based approach to the
classes I teach. ”

“I also enjoy giving my students opportunities to practice problem-solving beyond
the classroom setting. For example, one of my students completed an honors project
that helped a local financial institution better serve low-income Mississippians.
Other students used their problem-solving skills to help 5th and 6th grade students
at Midtown Charter School understand the basics of entrepreneurship. With the input
and guidance of Millsaps students, the 5th and 6th graders created and sold a comic
book about the entrepreneurial efforts of superhero Midbot in the Midtown community
across the street from Millsaps. Helping my students acquire economic skills that
they use to better their communities is one of the greatest rewards of teaching.”

Dr. Blakely Fox Fender is a Professor of Economics. She also works with ELSEWorks, the entrepreneurial initiative, and directs the Business Advantage Program. Dr.
Fender has published articles in academic journals such as The Journal of Economics, Southern Economic Journal, Journal of Forensic Economics and the Justice System Journal.

Patrick A. Taylor

Associate Professor of Economics

“I am an avid fan of the many successful sports teams here at Millsaps College. If
you’re in attendance at the basketball, football, etc. games, you’re likely to see
me there. One of my favorite applications of economic theory has been in the business
of sports class I teach. In that class we analyze the economic, legal, and governance
models in various sports industries and examine issues facing the industry, from salaries
to unions to talent management. The sports industry is just one great example of
the impact economics has in business. ”

Dr. Pat Taylor is an Associate Professor of Economics. He serves actively on the Midtown
Partners Board that promotes the social and economic revitalization of the Midtown
neighborhood across the street from Millsaps College and the board of the Center for
Christian Ministry, a joint venture between Millsaps College and the United Methodist
Church. Dr. Taylor also provides training to K-12 teachers in economics and financial
literacy for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. Dr. Taylor has published
articles most recently in academic journals such as the Journal of Academic Administration in Higher Education and the Academy of Educational Leadership Journal.

Susan W. Taylor

Professor of Economics, Richard and Selby McRae Chair of Business Administration

"My goal in teaching economics is to help economic decision-making to become second
nature for our students. After all, at its heart, economics is about making choices.
We make choices every day…how much should I spend on movies? Should I go to graduate
school after my undergraduate years at Millsaps? Business and government makes choices.
How much health care services should be produced and what determines how it’s allocated?
Should the state government spend more on infrastructure? Economics provides a framework
for making those decisions, comparing the additional costs of a choice to the additional
benefits.

"While there is economic theory in my classroom, there’s an equal dose of “real world”
interaction. How does the Federal Reserve make choices about monetary policy? In my
Intermediate Macroeconomics course, students think through these choices by participating
in a semester long project culminating in a simulation of a Federal Open Market Committee
meeting. Students learn through doing.

"Economics extends beyond the Millsaps classroom. Our faculty take Millsaps students
to see “economics in action”…meeting with pricing analysts at The Home Depot Corporate,
at The Southern Company and Delta Air Lines, They meet with leaders in the banking
industry at the American Bankers Association. And, yes, our Millsaps students have
the opportunity to meet with the members of the Federal Reserve Governors whose policy
they have simulated in class. "

Dr. Susan Taylor is Professor of Economics at Millsaps College. Her primary teaching
interests include Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Health Economics. She
is an active scholar, having published over 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals.